SEEKONK – Day 2 of qualifying play at the 2026 Rhode Island State Amateur wasn’t about moving up the leaderboard. With rain falling all day and winds picking up later, it was about survival.

Bobby Leopold survived a three-putt bogey on his opening hole and went on to shoot a 1-over 72, giving him a two-day score of 67-72-139 and medalist honors. Players who left Ledgemont Country Club at 7-over par hoping to make a playoff survived and were inside the cutline. Seven players will return Wednesday morning, trying to survive a playoff and earn the final spot in the match play portion of the tournament.

While the weather is set for a dramatic 180 for the rest of the week – minus potential storms Friday – survival will be the word of the day for the next two rounds. Match play is a different animal and keeping a steady hand as you ride the ups and downs is how you end up a champion.

So who will be the winner this week? You could wait for Friday – or you could check out predictions below.

First Round Picks

Six players will battle for the No. 32 seed, but honestly there’s no point. Bobby Leopold isn’t losing the first match of the day.  In a battle of two former Rhode Island All-Staters, No. 17 Cole Vieira is the pick over No. 16 Jasper Bruin Slot because his lefthandedness will prove to be advantageous – just don’t ask me how.

Anything can happen in a matchup between college players, so we’ll take No. 8 Shawn Clary – a rising sophomore at Bryant – over No. 25 Adam Gorman – a rising junior at York College – simply because Clary is 6-foot-3 and should be able to dunk. No. 9 Harry Dessel is a slam-dunk pick over No. 24 David Marshall because Dessel is a robot sent from the future to compete for RIGA titles.

No. 4 Sam Powell is the favorite over No. 29 Tyler Cooke, but Cooke is the pick because the Rhode Island State Amateur should be won by Rhode Islanders. No. 13 Brendan Lemp and No. 20 Jesse Hellring have the best name matchup and you’re crazy if you think we’re not picking Hellring to win that one.

No. 5 Max Jackson looks locked in and is the pick over No. 28 Nate Winsor. Our final matchup in the top half of the bracket sees No. 12 John Jackopsic – who played at Boston College – taking on No. 21 Matthew Costello – a rising junior at UConn – and since this isn’t a hockey game, we’re taking the Costello because he plays for a school that is actually trying to win athletic competitions.

Moving down to the bottom half, I’m going to avoid my Metacomet bias and take No. 2 Nathan Davis over No. 31 Antonio Torres, who plays out of MetLinks. No. 18 Jason Kalin has a terrific record in RIGA events, but there’s one guy in the field who has more Instagram followers than me so I’ll pick No. 15 Sonny Kollet in this one.

I expect No. 7 Kevin Silva to go on a deep run, but I’ll pick Prout All-Stater Rocco Capalbo – seeded 26^th – in the upset because I’m biased toward the kid I’ve covered in high school. I’m not taking No. 10 Jake Bauer over No. 23 Roland Gibson for this reason; Bauer’s just built to win and will be out for vengeance after falling in last year’s final.

Defending champ Mike Calef – seeded third – won’t lose in the first round against No. 30 Matt Shubley and we’re going to need No. 13 Tim Carroll to get a win over No. 19 Henry Sheehan to set up some friendly fire among clubmates for the next round.

Kevin Blaser has a State Am title to his name, but he’s also entering the stage of life where playing early-morning golf after two rain-soaked days proves tougher than you it did in previous years. No. 27 Drew MacLeod – the Providence Journal High School Player of the Year – is the pick and if he wins this, he could very well win the whole thing.

In the final matchup of the bottom half of the bracket, we’re going to take the best athlete in the tournament – No. 11 Austin Cilley, a former Westerly star hooper – to take down No. 22 John Drohen.

Round of 16 predictions

We’re going to run the football here, as Vieira’s left-handed wizardry runs its course against Leopold, the tournament’s true magician. Dessel is giving up height to Clary, but when you’re a stone-cold killer it doesn’t matter so we’ll send him right to Thursday’s quarterfinal.

There are infinite puns with Hellring vs. Cooke, so let’s take Hellring and see if one of the copy editors makes us change to [expletive]ring. Jackson vs. Costello is a lock for extra holes, but Jackson’s All-State soccer background means he has the endurance needed to grab the win.

Kollet needs to beat Davis for the memes and since it’s his home course, he’ll be the pick here. Capalbo will give Bauer fits, but Bauer’s experience will be the difference.

It’ll be curious to see if some Wanumetonomy take the short trip to Seekonk to check our Calef vs. Carroll in a match where bragging rights might mean more than moving on. Calef gets by in a tough one. It’s hard to pick against MacLeod, but his go-for-bust approach could prove fruitful. He’s the pick in an upset over Cilley and hopefully he’ll have enough time to get the Journal All-State photo shoot afterward.

Quarterfinal round

You want a statement? Here’s one – whoever wins the Leopold-Dessel match wins the tourney. This will be the most boring match on the planet, filled with nothing but great golf and absolutely no celebrations. Jackson sends Hellring to the depths and earns the other semifinal spot.

Bauer will be a runaway favorite over Kollet, but I’m curious to see if Kollet’s social media following comes through and interested parties show up to watch him play. Maybe a full gallery – or at least the RIGA version – gets to Bauer and the Cranston West alum grab pulls off an upset on his home course. Sure, why not.

MacLeod, hopefully armed with his brand new All-State bracelet, will jump out big early against Calef, but the defending champ’s consistency will allow him to weather the storm, come back and pick up the win.

Semifinal predictions

I know I just said whoever wins Leopold-Dessel will win the tournament but I’m going back on that because I think what happened Monday and Tuesday will greatly affect the older players. Jackson still has infinite energy and while Leopold is far from an old-timer, Jackson’s steady play and ability to never get tired earns him a spot in the final.

Kollet’s magic runs out here. Calef is too good and even if all 200,000 of Kollet’s followers show up, Calef won’t be spooked. Calef wins and Kollet will now have to deal with a 9.4 handicap (no big deal) sending him DMs looking for both golf and social media advice.

Who will win the 2026 RI State Amateur?

Calef has a chance to become a legend, with a win making him the 15^th player to win back-to-back State Amateurs, the 11^th since World War II and the third in the last 25 years.

But it’s not happening.

Max Jackson’s game has matured. He won two state titles thanks to accuracy and his short-game play, but as he got bigger and stronger he added distance but lost precision. It’s back and we’re seeing Jackson turn into the player we thought he could have been when he played in his first State Amateur at a 14-year old.

I was at Pawtucket Country Club when Jackson debuted and, provided the weather behaves, will be there Friday for what could be another historic first.

This article is sponsored by Rhode Island.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but don’t let its size fool you. The Ocean State packs an impressive amount of personality into its coastline, from thriving LGBTQ+ nightlife and local food favorites to waterfront views, creative neighborhoods, and one of New England’s most vibrant Pride celebrations.

Travelers looking to stay in the heart of the action will find plenty of options, including Aloft Providence Downtown, which places visitors within easy reach of Pride festivities, nightlife, local attractions, and many of the destinations that make Providence Pride weekend so memorable.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of the experience, start with the six Must C’s of Rhode Island.

Courtesy of Rhode Island

Cuisine

Good food is never hard to find here. Start the morning with brunch at Small Format, then grab small bites at Track 15 between events. Satisfy your late-night cravings with buck naked fries at Friskie Fries after the block parties, or grab something more hearty from Pizza Queen. Together, they offer a taste of the variety that defines Rhode Island’s food scene.

Coast

They don’t call it the Ocean State for nothing. Rhode Island’s coastal identity is woven into everything from its waterfront views to its relaxed atmosphere. Spend time along Providence’s RiverWalk, take in the views around India Point Park, or venture toward nearby seaside communities where the Atlantic is never far away. Whether you’re exploring Providence or heading farther afield, the coast remains part of the experience.

Courtesy of Rhode Island

Culture

Providence is filled with independent businesses, local art, and neighborhoods that invite exploration. A stroll down Wickenden Street lets you browse Pride gear at Mister Sister, then grab something more wholesome for mom at Nostalgia Antiques. Many local businesses and community spaces continue to shape the city’s creative identity, while nearby Federal Hill offers another vibrant corner of Providence worth exploring. During your time on Federal Hill, be sure to stop by Heartleaf Books, the only employee-owned, queer/trans-owned, and “seemingly first bookstore ever in Federal Hill.”

Cocktails

When the sun goes down, Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ nightlife comes alive. Pride weekend block parties spill into the evening as venues like The Eagle, Stable, and The Dark Lady fill with dancers, drag performances, and celebration. You can also stop in at the country’s third-oldest gay bar, Mirabar, or head into The VU Lounge & Bistro that offers lounge seating and a food menu until 10 pm. Whether you’re joining the Friday night festivities, catching Sangria Sunday at Stable, or simply looking for a place to raise a glass with friends, these community gathering spots help keep the energy going long after the daytime events end.

Courtesy of Rhode Island

Community

One of Rhode Island’s greatest strengths is its people. LGBTQ+ organizations, creators, performers, and businesses help shape a welcoming atmosphere throughout the year. Community-driven spaces and voices, including projects like Fruit Loop PVD, highlight the people and stories that make Providence feel connected and inclusive, both during Pride weekend and throughout the year.

Courtesy of Rhode Island

Celebrations

If there is one time when all of these elements come together, it’s Pride. From browsing vendors at PrideFest in the 195 District Park to gathering at dusk as the parade makes its way through the city, Providence Pride weekend transforms the city into one continuous celebration, with music, performances, and community filling the streets.

Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state, but when it comes to food, culture, nightlife, and Pride, it delivers an experience that feels anything but small. Come for one of the C’s, and you’ll probably discover the rest along the way.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made a $1 million donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank ahead of the couple’s wedding at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the nonprofit organization announced. 

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank — which acts as the primary food distribution center for a network of 137 member agencies across the state — intends to use the contributions to purchase additional food for local families and to provide further support to its member agencies, the food bank said in a press release. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for their extraordinarily generous and unexpected gift,” CEO Melissa Cherney said in the release. “As the need across our communities continues to grow, this $1 million donation will go a long way in helping us purchase and distribute the nutritious, culturally appropriate food that Rhode Islanders deserve.”

The food bank thanked the couple in social media posts Friday, a day before Swift and Kelce’s wedding.

“We were THRILLED to learn of this unexpected gift,” the organization wrote, “which comes at a time when the need for food assistance in our state is at an all-time high.” 

The food bank said the gift is particularly valuable during the summer, which typically means slower food donations. 

“Gifts like this are a powerful reminder of the good we can do with the support of our community,” Cherney said. “This act of generosity shows that, together, we can meet this moment and truly eliminate hunger in our state.” 

The $1 million gift is one of several donations the couple made prior to their wedding. Swift and Kelce donated to other northeast charities, including nine in New York and Helping Harvest, a food bank in Pennsylvania, Variety reported. 

Rhode Island Community Food Bank noted other large donations made to charities — Feeding America, one of the largest food banks in the U.S., and Harvesters, a regional food bank serving Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri.

Feeding America received a $2 million donation, while Harvesters were given $1 million, according to social media posts from the organizations thanking the couple. 

“I hope their gift inspires others,” Cherney added. “It has certainly inspired us.”